Sparano deflects Wildcat "rhythm" questions

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 16, 2009, 8:18 PM EDT

Well, it took a couple of weeks, but finally someone in the South Florida media has asked Dolphins coach Tony Sparano about the potential impact of the Wildcat attack on the “rhythm” of the base offense.

It’s a concern that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb first raised after Philly’s third preseason game, during which McNabb was bumped out of the quarterback position so that Mike Vick could take some snaps in the Wildcat package.

And with the Dolphins’ Wildcat offense (along with the base offense) laying an egg at the Georgia Dome in Week One, the concept of rhythm — or lack thereof — has reared its head in Miami.

Asked about the importance of quarterback Chad Pennington not being removed until the offense has established a rhythm, Sparano said Wednesday, “You mean besides the two plays that we took him out of the game of the 60 last week? It’s important. I mean, it’s no different to me than those guys coming off the field on a punt and then go out and play. I don’t think that screws up our rhythm.”

The bigger concern, from Sparano’s perspective, isn’t the potential problems associated with taking Pennington out when he’s hot, but with putting Pat White in when he’s cold.

“I think it’s difficult when it’s a throw,” Sparano said. “I don’t think he can stand there like a baseball player and warm him up in the bullpen. I mean, I think it’s difficult when it’s a throw.”

White was used sparingly in Week One, getting one rushing attempt and throwing one pass, a deep ball that fell incomplete.

10 responses to “Sparano deflects Wildcat "rhythm" questions”

Well, Sporano’s offense is fine without a certain rhythm. Because he mostly uses a spread offense.
But the Eagles run the west coast offense, which needs a successful rhythm to be effective.
Obviously all offenses need to be in a certain rhythm in order to succeed.
But the west coast offense really needs all aspects and key parts to perform in sync or in rhythm with one another.
Don’t believe me? Then go dig up some old footage from the late great Bill Walsh, when he is explaining the offense, and he states rhythm as a key factor in its success quite often.

The Pat White pass against the Falcons was overthrown. The Miami receiver, I think it was Davone Bess, got past Falcons CB Chris Houston and S Thomas DeCoud. If the pass was on the money, it would’ve been a touchdown. If it was a touchdown, we’d have already seen numerous Mike Florio *kiss kiss* Pat White articles already.

It seems to me that the Wildcat was effective in exactly one game – the one when Miami unveiled it last year against NE. They caught the Pats defense off guard and that is the only reason it worked then. Since that game, teams have been prepared for it. There is nothing inherent in the scheme that causes problems for defenses. It was just the element of surprise, not the scheme itself, that made it effective in that first game. It amazes me that it has caught on so much around the league. Like the other commenters have said, it’s a gimmick, pure and simple. The fact that the Eagles went out and signed a convicted felon just so they could toy around with this gimmick is just stupid.

SaintsBucs that pass was to Ted Ginn, I was at the game (Falcon fan like yourself) I also happen to love the Dolphins though. I don’t consider their pffense a spread Mcnabb2jackson. It’s a Pro Style Power Run offense. Sparano is right–it’s harder for Pat White to come in and do deep passes like he tried. He’s better off doing some underneath stuff first–and working up to launching a homerun pass. The Phins will be alright–the defense shut down the top running attack in the league. The Young Corners weren’t dismantled at all. The Offense let them down with turnovers–but don’t expect that to happen very much…..

So its a problem for him to throw the deep ball when he is cold due to the lack of “bull-pen” like warm up?
There is plenty of warm-up to be had pregame.
and if he wants to stay warm; do like the kickers do to keep warm – Use the sideline and throw the damn ball to teammates.
Back-up quarterbacks do it when they need to replace the incumbent QB.
Its no secret that he is back-up QB for the sake of the wildcat. Why not keep his arm warm all game long.

Wow, so the Wildcat is only effective when you score 4-5 TDs with it?
This last game it wasn’t effective the 4 times they ran it, but I do recall a few games last season that they didn’t score a ton of TDs with it, but 7 attemps for 49 yards. Would you be happy with a 7 yard per attempt avarage? I would be.
They did score a TD against the Texans but still lost the game.
You aren’t going to always score, but if you can gain some first downs or good yardage, then it is effective.
Oh, and if Pat White wouldn’t have overthrown Tedd Ginn up the middle who had 2 steps on a coupe of Atlanta defenders that would have been an easy 6.
Just remember, all you need is 1 person making a mistake, a missed tackle or two and it can be 6 points.
It makes the defense think and when you have the defense thinking, some people may make a mistake.